Backroads wants to make nerdy fan videos

[Backroads]

So... I'm kind of a nerd. I want to unleash even more of my nerdom by making cutesy fan music videos of movies and shows I like.

I have iMovie.

Any tricks and tips?

[Bini]

Ooo fandom! Of what? :]

The only kind of fan videos I've made are machinimas - I've made 6 on YouTube. But if you're making a fan vid of a particular book or movie, there's sure to be a lot of cool stuff you can utilize right from off the web. For example, if you're making a Harry Potter or anime fan vid, you can download free clips and sound files (of the movie or particular series) from online and incorporate them into your work. That's one idea :]

[slamjet]

War Games (1983), OK, before your time...

[JudoMinja]

I made an amv (anime music video) using Microsoft Movie Maker (terrible program!!!) which you can find on youtube titled Hughes was Meant to Live. Or you can download it from the site www.animemusicvideos.org if you really want to. There are tons on that site way better than mine! It uses footage from Full Metal Alchemist and the song We Were Meant to Live from Switchfoot.

I told myself that if I could ever afford to purchase a better movie making program, I would use it to make better fan-videos. But... now I don't know if I'd want to spend so much time on something like that, lol. I took a video production course in high school and was privileged to work with the program Final Cut Pro, so I felt a bit spoiled by it and then severely limited when all I had available was the Microsoft program.

Anyway... I don't know what kind of general advice to offer without having an idea of what exactly you need help with. Ideas for movies? Music input? How to match things together for smoothness and effect? How to make it appealing? How to use the program itself? .... I'd be glad to help you out as much as I can, but have no idea what kind of advice to give without a bit more specific guidance for what kind of help you need.

[Bini]

Judo, I totally feel you! I remember suffering through WMM after messing around with Adobe Video Editing software on loan - it was painful! Then I bought Pinnacle Studio for around $100, and that was perfect for small projects and home videos. I'd recommend that program for beginners to video editing because it's very simple to use, you don't need to spend hours reading through (or watching on YouTube) complex tutorials. But if you're patient and have time to hurdle the learning curve, I'd recommend Sony Vegas Pro, it's pricey but it's professional/commercial grade. I got that one about a year or so ago, and it's an amazing program, limitless options.

So, Backroads, if you're even in the market for a video editing program, maybe checkout something alike Pinnacle Studios? It's an affordable software and does quite a lot for a beginner. Also, Pinnacle's online support team is very helpful in figuring out various aspects of the software if and when you get stumped. They even have a forum of "movie makers" that will chime in on tips and tricks for making whatever you want :]

[Backroads]

I'm trying to figure out to be awesome with iMovie, but some artistic sensibility would be nice.

[NeuroTypical]

I'm a little interested - are there free movie editing programs out there? Even if they stink and are horrible?

I have two giggly girls and a duty to raise them familiar with computers...

[Vort]

I'm a little interested - are there free movie editing programs out there? Even if they stink and are horrible?

I have two giggly girls and a duty to raise them familiar with computers...

Windows Movie Maker is free, if you are running Bill's Excellent OS.

[JudoMinja]

I'm trying to figure out to be awesome with iMovie, but some artistic sensibility would be nice.

Well, the first bit of advice that comes to mind is to "layer" your video shots so that they sync up with the different layers of music- the beat, the melody, and the lyrics (if it's a music video). There are many styles- some that move quickly through clips and some more slowly, but overall you want it to tell a story that "fits" the music. Make sure that any transitional tools you use ADD to the project and that you don't just use them because they are cool. Really- the fewer transitions and effects (typically) the better. You want to be as selective with your tools as you are with your footage.

If you really want to make something great you need to focus on two things: research and practice. Watch other music videos, pick out the ones you really like- that really strike you as "awesome", and then figure out what it is about those videos that drew you in. What qualities made them great? Then, fiddle around with what you have available and practice, practice, practice.

I was told that you can never have too much footage. Since a fan-made video typically uses footage from whatever show you are honoring, pull every bit of footage from those shows you can get. Get still images you can work with as well, and make sure you are very familiar with every little bit of your "library" as you can be. As you work on your film, keep going back to your footage base and toy with different ways to pull off what you are looking to do.

Plan ahead- create a story board, sketch out how you want your video to pan. Think abstract- what emotions do you want to evoke? What colors and angles will have the greatest effect on your audience? Even with a simpler program, it is possible to make something effective- even if it doesn' get to be everything you imagined. Think outside the box and be creative with the tools you have.